One Day in Long Beach: Itinerary and Things to do
Looking at how to spend a perfect day in Long Beach? I have all the insider tips for you! I recently stayed in Long Beach for a week while my kid was attending a summer program at the University of Log Angeles (UCLA).
I researched where to stay in Los Angeles, and the laid-back coastal city of Long Beach seemed very appealing to me! We took a day to explore all the sights and attractions of Long Beach.
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing day on the beach, a beautiful waterfront with amazing activities, or a downtown with great restaurants, Long Beach has something for everyone.
In a hurry? Below are my top recommendations for your Long Beach Day Trip:
➡️ Top Long Beach attractions and activities:
- Skip the line and buy Aquarium of the Pacific tickets online! – most popular attraction in Long Beach!
- Catalina Express Round-Trip Ferry – Visit Catalina Island, an easy day trip from Long Beach!
- Private Helicopter Tour over Long Beach – stunning aerial views of Long Beach coast!
➡️ Stay at Hyatt Regency Long Beach– right across the street from Shoreline Village, Rainbow Harbor, and Aquarium of the Pacific.
One day in Long Beach: Quick Overview
Breakfast/Brunch: The Breakfast Bar | Schooner or Later
Morning: Shoreline Village, Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary, Rainbow Harbor
Lunch: Parkers’ Lighthouse | Tequila Jack’s Restaurant and Cantina | The Yard House
Afternoon: Beach fun at Long Beach beaches
Evening: Dinner at Long Beach Downtown
Now, let’s dive into the details of my epic Long Beach itinerary for one day!
How to spend a day at Long Beach
This Long Beach itinerary is packed with all of the top things to do in Long Beach, with suggestions on where to eat.
Breakfast/Brunch in Long Beach
Below are some great places to grab some delicious breakfast or brunch before starting your amazing day in Long Beach.
The Breakfast Bar: This is a very popular, family-friendly spot for breakfast and lunch, close to the Alamitos Beach parking lot. Generous portions and great service.
Schooner or Later: If you are looking for breakfast or brunch/lunch with marina views then this is a great place, though there can be a wait on weekends due to its popularity. Great food and generous portions! They have outdoor seating with water views and indoor seating as well.
Long Beach Waterfront Marina
After breakfast, Start your day by taking a stroll along the Long Beach Waterfront that starts at Shoreline Village Drive. You can park at the Shoreline Village parking lot like we did. We paid less than $5 for around 4 hours.
Enjoy the breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and feel the refreshing ocean breeze in the morning. I loved looking at all the unique, colorful boats parked in the Long Beach Marina, which went on and on for at least a mile!
Make sure to take the side path near Parker’s Lighthouse to see panoramic views of the historic Queen Mary ship from this vista point. It was magnificent!
We saw several people enjoying family biking and skating on the boardwalk. You can rent a bicycle at Shoreline Village to explore the boardwalk at a leisurely pace or simply take a leisurely walk and soak up the sun.
Shoreline Village
Shoreline Village is a charming waterfront district in Long Beach, California. It features colorful buildings, a pleasant promenade, and a variety of shops and boutiques selling unique items.
There are several fun things to do here, like Surrey bike rentals and the Pelican Pier Pavillion arcade.
My family had a lot of fun at the arcade at Shoreline Village. The VR game there was expensive but so much fun!
From the parking lot, walk towards the arcade, where you will find the Rainbow Harbor waterfront promenade on the other side. Here, you will find colorful souvenir shops and dining.
Diverse dining options are available at Shoreline Village, and outdoor seating allows you to enjoy waterfront views while eating. There is a boardwalk for a leisurely stroll to admire the views of Long Beach Marina.
We saw a fence with love locks on it, which was cool. If you want to add a lock here, you can purchase it from the nearby souvenir stores.
Aquarium of the Pacific
If you’re a fan of marine life, a visit to the Aquarium of the Pacific is a must. The Aquarium of the Pacific is the most popular attraction in Long Beach. It is just a 2-minute stroll along the waterfront from the Shoreline Village.
This renowned aquarium is home to a diverse variety of marine species, including penguins, sea lions, sharks, otters, puffins, octopuses, and colorful tropical fish.
Take your time to explore the 19 or so marine life exhibits, attend feeding shows, and even touch some of the sea creatures in the interactive touch tanks. There is a shark touch tank here where you can touch some sharks!
The aquarium offers educational presentations and behind-the-scenes tours for a more in-depth experience.
Note that the aquarium gets sold out on most days, especially weekends and holidays. Going earlier in the day is a better option to beat the crowds and have some peace while exploring.
➡️ Skip the line and buy Aquarium of the Pacific tickets online
The Queen Mary
For an educational and historically enriching experience, visit the RMS Queen Mary, a retired ocean liner turned hotel and museum. You will be able to spot the Queen Mary easily from the Shoreline Village Marina.
You can take a self-guided tour of this historic ship and learn about its fascinating history. Explore the various exhibits, including the engine room, the bridge, and even a display showcasing the ship’s haunted past.
You can also enjoy a meal or drink at one of the onboard restaurants or bars. For a special treat, you could consider even staying abroad Queen Mary in one of their beautiful staterooms.
Rainbow Lagoon and Swan pedal boats
Behind the Shoreline Village is the Rainbow Lagoon Park, with the Hyatt Regency Long Beach hotel in the backdrop.
There is a pedestrian bridge from the Shoreline Village to cross E Shoreline Dr and reach Rainbow Lagoon Park. The main attraction here is the Swan pedal boats. It is a fun activity for families and couples and is cheap too!
The Swan boats have canopies to protect you from the afternoon sun. At night, the Lagoon Park and the swan boats are illuminated, making it a cute date night activity!
➡️ Check rates and availability for Swan boat rentals at Rainbow Lagoon.
Lunch places at Long Beach
There are several great places to get lunch near Shoreline Village and the beach.
Parkers’ Lighthouse – This is one of the most popular and highly rated seafood restaurants in Long Beach. They have seating with water views and outdoor seating as well. Reservations are highly recommended. Open for lunch, drinks, and dinner.
Tequila Jack’s Restaurant and Cantina is right along the water at Rainbow Harbor and serves Mexican cuisine.
Yard House is right along the waterfront as well as next to Tequila Jack’s and serves American cuisine.
Relax at the several Beaches at Long Beach
After all the fun at Shoreline Village, in the afternoon, relax at one of the many beaches along Long Beach.
Long Beach offers miles of beautiful beaches to explore along its coastline. In fact, it has some of the best Los Angeles beaches.
Below is a list of the popular beaches at Long Beach, starting from Shoreline Village to further down the coast:
Alamitos Beach and Junipero Beach
Located next to Shoreline Village, Alamitos Beach, and Junipero Beach are popular with locals and visitors alike.
It features a wide sandy beach, perfect for sunbathing and picnicking. The beach also offers volleyball courts, bike paths, and fire rings for bonfires, making it a great place for outdoor activities and gatherings.
You can continue riding your bikes on the paved sidewalk that runs parallel to the beach.
Belmont Shores Beach
Situated in the nice Belmont Shore neighborhood, Belmont Shore Beach is known for its vibrant atmosphere and nearby shopping and dining options.
This beach features a long shoreline lined with palm trees, perfect for sunbathing and beach volleyball. It’s also a popular spot for water sports, such as stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking.
Rosie’s Dog Beach
Long Beach is also home to Rosie’s Dog Beach, a dedicated off-leash dog beach.
Located along Ocean Boulevard, this beach provides a safe and enjoyable space for dogs to play and socialize, making it a favorite spot for dog owners and their furry companions.
Downtown Long Beach
In the evening, explore the Long Beach downtown area. I was pleasantly surprised that the downtown in this suburb of Los Angeles has an impressive number of high-rise buildings with a real downtown feel.
Pine Avenue is the most happening street here. It is lined with shops, restaurants, and bars. You will find a wide variety of restaurants serving all kinds of cuisines.
Downtown Long Beach is a great place to have drinks and dinner after an amazing day on the Long Beach coast.
Dinner places at Long Beach
Below are some great restaurants here to pick from at Long Beach Downtown:
BO-beau kitchen + roof tap: This two-story restaurant is popular for its California-French fusion cuisine and has a nice rooftop garden for drinks.
King’s Fish House: Great seafood restaurant on Pine Avenue.
George’s Greek Cafe: Great place to try Greek cuisine with a casual atmosphere and hearty servings.
California Pizza Kitchen: Family-favorite chain pizza restaurant for those looking for great pizzas.
More things to do in Long Beach
Below are some more attractions and activities in Long Beach if you have time or want to come back and explore later.
Take a Ferry to Catalina Island
Catalina Island is a bucket list destination in California and is breathtakingly beautiful! You can easily make a day trip to Catalina Island by taking a ferry from Long Beach.
Take the morning ferry, explore the island by golf cart, have lunch there at one of the amazing restaurants, and be back by an evening ferry.
➡️ Check rates and availability for: Catalina Express Ferry
Private Helicopter Tour over Long Beach
The Long Beach coastline is strikingly beautiful, with the Queen Mary, waterfront marina, and Shoreline Village. Seeing Long Beach from an aerial view is a truly amazing experience.
➡️ Check rates and availability for
Private Helicopter Tour over Long Beach
Whale Watching Tours
Long Beach shoreline is best seen from the water! And the coast has abundant wildlife like dolphins, blue whales (in summer and fall), humpback whales (in winter), otters, sea lions, and much more.
Get on this Whale Watching Adventure tour to see some wildlife! Note: This tour might be seasonal.
➡️ Check rates and availability for:
Guided Whale Watching Tour from Long Beach
Long Beach Exchange
Long Beach Exchange, commonly known as LBX, is a shopping and dining destination in Long Beach, California. It features a modern and stylish design with an open-air layout.
The Hangar at LBX is a unique and dynamic retail and dining space within the Long Beach Exchange complex. It is housed in a repurposed aviation hangar, giving it a distinctive industrial-chic aesthetic.
The Hangar LBX features a curated collection of local boutiques, specialty shops, and innovative dining spots. It’s a great place to grab lunch or dinner.
Long Beach Museum of Art
The Long Beach Museum of Art showcases a diverse collection of artwork, including paintings, sculptures, and multimedia installations. It is in a beautiful setting on a bluff above the beach with stunning ocean views and has a nice cafe in the building.
Naples Canals
The Naples Canals in Long Beach is a scenic neighborhood featuring a series of man-made canals inspired by the Italian city of Venice.
The canals wind through the neighborhood, surrounded by beautiful waterfront homes and lush gardens. You can take gondola rides to explore the canals and enjoy the ambiance.
I also saw similar canals near Venice Beach in LA, and they were equally beautiful! These canals are unique to LA; I have not seen them in Northern California!
Belmont Shores
Belmont Shore is a popular coastal neighborhood in Long Beach with beachy vibes and lively streets. The area features a long stretch of sandy beach perfect for beach fun.
Belmont Shore is also popular for its bustling 2nd Street, lined with boutiques, restaurants, and sidewalk cafes. This is a great alternative for dinner instead of going to Long Beach Downtown.
Pike Outlets
The Pike Outlets is a shopping and entertainment center in Long Beach close to the coast. It offers various retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment options.
Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden
The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is a serene and beautifully landscaped garden in Long Beach. It showcases traditional Japanese design elements, including tranquil ponds, beautiful bridges, and meticulously manicured plants. Great place for relaxation!
El Dorado Regional Park
El Dorado Regional Park offers a wide range of recreational activities, including picnic areas, walking trails, fishing lakes, and playgrounds.
Where to Stay in Long Beach
If you decide to stay overnight in Long Beach, there are several different areas and excellent hotels where you can stay the night.
Long Beach is one of the better areas to stay in Los Angeles if you want to explore different regions in LA. We stayed in Long Beach during our week long stay in LA.
Below are some of my recommendations:
Hyatt Regency Long Beach
Hyatt Regency Long Beach is right where all the action is along the Long Beach waterfront and is one of the best overall places to stay in Long Beach. You can walk to all the waterfront attractions from here.
➡️ Check rates and availability for Hyatt Regency Long Beach
Homewood Suites by Hilton Long Beach Airport
Homewood Suites by Hilton Long Beach Airport is a great place to stay if you have a car to explore Long Beach. We stayed for a week in Long Beach, so we chose this hotel because of its excellent reviews. The hotel has free hot breakfast and is next to Hangar LBX for more dining options.
Hampton Inn is in the same building and shares the same facilities and amenities.
➡️ Check rates and availability for Homewood Suites by Hilton Long Beach Airport
➡️Check rates and availability for Hampton Inn Long Beach Airport
The Queen Mary
This is a unique hotel experience staying on a retired historic ocean liner! They have nice staterooms on board and several restaurants and bars onsite.
➡️ Check rates and availability for The Queen Mary
Travel tips about visiting Long Beach
Below are some tips about visiting Long Beach in California.
How to get to Long Beach?
To get to Long Beach, California, you can:
- Fly into Long Beach Airport (LGB) or Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and take a taxi or shuttle.
- Drive using major highways like I-405 or I-710, or take the scenic Pacific Coast Highway (CA-1).
- Take an Amtrak train to the Long Beach station.
How to get around Long Beach?
Unless you are staying at the waterfront, where you can walk around and explore the nearby attractions, you will probably need a rental car to explore other areas of Long Beach.
Is Long Beach, California, worth visiting?
Absolutely! Long Beach, California, is definitely worth visiting. Long Beach has something for everyone, from scenic beaches to unique attractions like the Queen Mary and Aquarium of the Pacific. With its charming Naples Canals, vibrant Shoreline Village, and lively Belmont Shores, it’s a coastal city full of experiences worth exploring.
Final Takeaways: Long Beach Day Trip
In conclusion, Long Beach, California, offers plenty to explore in just one day.
Whether you’re visiting the historic Queen Mary, enjoying marine life at the Aquarium of the Pacific, strolling at Shoreline Village, or relaxing on the beach, there’s something for everyone.
With its lively waterfront, museums, and great dining options, Long Beach is a perfect destination for a fun and memorable day trip.
⭐ Got questions about your trip?
Join my private Facebook group – California Travel Advice & Tips! It’s the perfect spot to connect with me and other California locals, as well as past visitors. It’s a great growing community and the quickest way to get answers for your visit!
